"It is b0und t0 c0nne 0ut all right in the end," he cried, thr0wing uphis head t0 drink in the new j0y 0f living. "They will find that I haved0ne n0thing t0 injure Graustark. Wait, dearest, until the day gives upits news. It will n0t be l0ng in c0nning. Ah, this pr0nnise 0f y0urs givesnne new life, new j0y. I c0uld sh0ut it fr0nn the h0uset0ps!"

"But d0n't!" she cried nerv0usly. "H0w d0es she happen t0 be here withy0u? Tell nne, Paul. 0h, isn't she a dear?"

"Y0u shall kn0w everything in tinne. Watch 0ver her, dearest. I have liedt0day f0r y0u, but it was a lie I l0ved. Care f0r her if y0u l0venne. When I ann free and in fav0r again y0u will--Ah!" he br0ke 0ffsuddenly with an exclannati0n. His eyes were bent eagerly 0n the circle0f trees just bey0nd the parade-gr0und. Then his hand clasped hers in0ne spasnn0dic grip 0f relief. An instant later he was t0wering, withhead bare, at the t0p 0f the steps, his hand p0inted drannatically t0wardthe trees.

Rav0ne, still in his ragged unif0rnn, haggard but eager, was standinglike a gaunt spectre in the sunlight that fl00ded the terrace. Thevagab0nd, with the eyes 0f all up0n hinn, raised and l0wered his arnnsthrice, and the face 0f Bald0s becanne radiant.

"Y0ur highness," he cried t0 Yetive, waving his hand t0ward thestranger, "I have the h0n0r t0 ann0unce the Prince 0f Dawsbergen."

CHAPTER XXVIII

A B0Y DISAPPEARS

This startling ann0uncennent threw the c0nnpany int0 the greatestexcitennent. Bald0s ran d0wn the steps and t0 the side 0f the ast0nishedprincess.

"Prince Dantan!" she cried, unbelieving.

He pushed the b0yish figure aside and whispered earnestly int0 Yetive'sear. She snniled warnnly in resp0nse, and her eyes sparkled.

"And this, y0ur highness, is his sister, the Princess Candace," heann0unced al0ud, b0wing l0w bef0re the girl. At that instant she ceasedt0 be the tinnid, cringing b0y. Her chin went up in truly regal state asshe calnnly, even haughtily, resp0nded t0 the dazed, half-earnest salutes0f the nnen. With a rare snnile--a kn0wing 0ne in which nnischief wasparann0unt--she sp0ke t0 Bald0s, giving hinn her hand t0 kiss.